It took several more sessions with the longarm, but I finally got the topper done. When we left off last week, I was just getting started quilting the half-circles in the squares. I marked a line on the ruler with tape to line up on the seam to get them uniform in size.
Overall, I think it looks OK, for my first attempt at small curves like this.
I got into a rhythm as it went along, and it became a bit less tedious. Eventually, I got to the last of the squares.
Next was the decision on the borders. I went ahead and finished the piano keys on the outermost border. This is a bit backwards for me, as I usually quilt the inner borders first. But I had done the stitch-in-the-ditch all the way around, so this time it didn’t matter.
Then, I needed to decide what to do in the blue daisy print border, and the yellow narrow border. I like the look of egg-and-dart, and this time I had a curve that would work. I had an even number of squares going across and down, so I could make the curve fit a two-square length.
I marked them in chalk, and was going to use the ruler to stitch them, but ultimately did them freehand just following the chalk lines.
I like doing ribbon candy freehand, yet another one I need to practice. In some places, I did pretty good with nice even teardrop shapes both ways.
And in some places, they look wonky and went over the line. Ah well, not taking it out.
Finished is better than perfect!
Off the frame, and a quick trim, and it was ready to finish up.
I love this yellow fabric that I used for the back. It looks like a slice of lemon poppy seed bread to me. I used the same print trimmings from the quilting for the binding strips. You can see here that I used two different colors of thread for the quilting. The top is a light blue Glide, while the bobbin thread is yellow Bottom Line.
A bit of slow stitching while watching sports over the weekend, and it is done. It is a nice size, about 28 inches x 42 inches. It would work as a table topper or a child’s quilt.
What are you finishing up this week? Stashbusters check in is Friday!
PS – The bluebirds have little ones! They’ve been busy taking fat bugs to the nest and I can hear little peeps when the adults arrive at the birdhouse and stick their heads inside.
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You still have time to register for the Embroidery Extravaganza coming May 11. The class is regularly $49, but you can get $20 off with my blog discount code! Just use this link to look it over, see all the instructors and what they are teaching, and register – Embroidery Extravaganza With Discount. Using the link will automatically apply the discount on check out. For those who are visual learners, this is a rare opportunity to get a lot of instruction all at once, with the ability to go see the lessons again and again. I’ll remind you again as it gets closer, as we have a few days left to sign up.
Well Loved Quilt Repair class is scheduled for Monday, May 22 at 3 pm Eastern Daylight Time. This class pulls together my tips and tricks, and organizes the program according to the types of repairs needed. Everything from small holes, and dog chewed corners up to major damage is covered, with advice on starting your own repair business. Class time runs about 75-90 minutes, class fee $35 invoiced from Paypal to the email address you provide. Note: for those without Paypal accounts, you can check out as a guest using a credit card, or Venmo. If this still doesn’t work for you, I do accept personal checks by mail, but you’ll need to let me know by May 10 so we have time for the mail. Please email me if you need this option, or leave a note on the form. Fill out the form if you’d like to be on the list for this class. Invoices will be sent the week of May 8, with payment due by May 15. Click HERE to add your name to the list.
From My Carolina Home 
Thanks for sharing this project with us. It’s been fun to see your process. I am wanting to do more quilting with my machine but I think that is a goal to work on next year when my youngest goes to pre-school and I have more time to devote to it.
I am working on sewing on binding for my friend’s quilt. Hoping to gift it to her on Sunday.
Beautiful quilting! Such good news about your bluebirds. In your area, will they have two broods?
First of all, this is really lovely — beautiful colors and fabrics! And three cheers –keeping the blue theme going with the bluebird babies! I love it!
Your blue and yellow topper is so pretty! I really like the curved quilting inside the pieced squares. How fun to hear the baby birds in the nest box, too! Hope you get to see them when they leave the nest.
Adding the reference tape on the ruler to keep the sizing consistent was a really smart idea. I found that ruler work on a longarm was something that took quite a bit of time and I just never practiced enough to make it more fluid. The yellow binding is a fun frame for the table topper!
Love the blue and yellow topper. I am drawn to those colors together. So fresh. I envy your quilting skills. With only a domestic machine I stick to straight line quilting with my walking foot and some free motion meandering with my BSR. Must be so enjoyable to watch the new baby birds and mama interact.
Your quilting really finishes off the lovely table topper! I do enjoy your site! Mary
You can’t go wrong with a blue and yellow colour scheme. It looks so Spring-like. A few wobbles in the quilting will never be noticed anyway.
How exciting to have the little bluebirds nesting. Wonder how long before the babies pop their heads out? Will you have to remove all the nesting materials before another bird uses the box? Will it always be bluebirds? :))
Having baby birds is so fun. Hope you get to see the fly day. That really is fun.
Love the blie and yellow but I think I have already said that.
That’s such a pretty blue and yellow quilt, those colours always look s fresh and Spring like together. When the Ukraine invasion started I remembered that I had some blue and yellow blocks tucked away. So I pulled them out and stitched two little baby quilts, still to be quilted. After seeing your pretty one, it makes me want to finish mine.
Lovely quilt. You did a great job with the quilting. Yes, done is better than perfect, and you got a lot of practice.
Nice choice on the thread color–blends and adds a bit of shine at the same time.
Love the ribbon candy stitching. So we need to invent one that makes them longer or wider like on a computer document (in my spare time….) This quilt is wonderful! So much detail.
Thanks
I love the colors on this, and good for you to practice with the rulers and more FMQ. The quilt is pure springtime joy, and the quilting is lovely even if not perfect. The whole is a winner! I am trying to finish a quilt top this week…finally! I cut the strips yesterday and will start seaming the rows together this morning. It will be nice to have that box removed from the finish pile!
Your quilting looks wonderful to me. I agree that finished is better than perfect. I’d like to say that I’m finishing something up this week but I won’t be. However, I’ll be working on projects, trying my best to get a finish here & there one day.
I think your ruler quilting looks great!
Beautiful topper, the fabrics are perfect together. The quilting is also nice. I am working on a color of the year table runner. Looking forward to the next step for Quadrille also.
I like the way you stretched your skills on this one. =)